CHAMBLIN TURNS THE PAGE
Former coach returns with Argos
Corey Chamblin’s time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders is consigned to the past.
That’s how Chamblin looks back on his three-plus seasons as the head coach of the CFL team.
On the weekend, he is to make his first appearance in Regina since being fired by the Riders midway through the 2015 season. He is now the defensive co-ordinator, assistant head coach and defensive backs coach with the Toronto Argonauts, who are to oppose the Roughriders on Saturday.
“There aren’t any real emotions about returning to Regina,’’ Chamblin said Wednesday from Toronto. “Everything in Regina is history, both positive and negative.
“The stadium isn’t there from when I was there and it’s not even the same team. It’s like whole new organization because everything has moved. That’s what unique about this. All of the memories are gone with old Mosaic Stadium.’’
Old Mosaic Stadium was the site of Chamblin’s greatest achievement as a head coach when he led the Riders to a 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2013 Grey Cup game. Guard Brendon LaBatte, centre Dan Clark, receiver Rob Bagg and fullback Spencer Moore are the only Riders remaining from the 2013 championship team.
LaBatte feels Chamblin deserves recognition from the fans before Saturday’s game. He is one of only four Cup-winning head coaches in Riders history.
“He gave us nothing but his best,’’ LaBatte said. “He put his best effort in and he was successful in bringing us the home championship. There isn’t any reason not to welcome him back.’’
Under Chamblin, the Riders’ 2014 season was off to a strong start before quarterback Darian Durant suffered a torn tendon in his right elbow during a 30-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 7. The Riders improved to 8-2 with the win, but finished 10-8 and were beaten 18-10 by the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Division semifinal.
In 2015, Durant’s comeback lasted just under two quarters before he suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in the regular season opener. On Aug. 31, 2015, Chamblin and general manager Brendan Taman were fired shortly after the Riders’ record dropped to 0-9.
“I don’t look back on the whatifs, but more on where we were going at 8-2,’’ Chamblin said. “I don’t think things could have changed. I look at it as those things happened and they set a new course.’’
The Riders haven’t fared well since Chamblin’s ouster. They have won just nine of 31 regular-season games and this season carry a 1-3 record into Saturday’s contest.
“Some people may get satisfaction out of it, but I don’t,’’ Chamblin said. “It’s just the next step and I did what I did. It was time to move forward and that’s the way the football gods saw it.’’
Chamblin looks back on 2013 as a special season for the Riders.
“Each year has its own magic,’’ Chamblin said. “It was that season and there were a lot of lessons that were learned. We had the right players with the right team chemistry with the right coaches. Everything was aligned for us and we did what we needed to do to win that championship.’’
Chamblin’s return to the CFL was sparked by a shakeup of the Argonauts’ front office in early January. General manager Jim Barker was fired and head coach Scott Milanovich resigned to become the quarterbacks coach with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jim Popp replaced Barker as general manager and Marc Trestman was named head coach. Popp and Trestman had both experienced great success in their respective roles with the Montreal Alouettes.
Even though Popp and Trestman were thrust into those positions late in the 2017 off-season, the Argonauts are first in the East Division with a 3-2 record.
“Marc is setting the course for us and we have some good coaches and good veteran players here,’’ Chamblin said. “There are things you can do and if you do them you win. If you don’t do you lose. We’re focusing on those things that produce wins, a positive culture, and we’re headed in the right direction.’’
NOTE: Riders receiver Duron Carter was fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL on Wednesday for a pre-game altercation Saturday with Calgary Stampeders safety Josh Bell.